English language schools spending increases

Embargoed until 10:45am – 5 August 2009

International students' spending at English language schools continues to increase

According to the English Language Providers survey, international students at English language schools spent $142 million on tuition and related fees in the year ended March 2009, Statistics New Zealand said today. This spending is $20.7 million higher than in the year ended March 2008, and is the third consecutive yearly increase. In total, international students studying at English language schools spent an estimated $284 million in the March 2009 year, $41 million more than in the March 2008 year. This total includes expenditure on accommodation and other living costs, as well as on tuition and related fees.

Students from Saudi Arabia accounted for the largest increase in expenditure on tuition and related fees in the March 2009 year (as they did in the March 2008 year). Their spending increased $13 million (137.2 percent) this year and was driven by higher student numbers and longer periods of study.

China was the largest overall contributor to expenditure on tuition and related fees in the March 2009 year.

Students from South Korea were the largest contributors in both the March 2007 and 2008 years.

A 14.2 percent increase in the total number of weeks studied by all students was the main contributor to the increase in tuition revenue and related fees in the March 2009 year. The average length of study on English language courses over this period was 12 weeks. However, the number of students enrolled in English language schools fell 6.8 percent, to 36,990. The largest fall was in the number of Japanese students whose numbers have been decreasing since the March 2007 year.

The estimated total value of expenditure by all international students studying in New Zealand was $1,335 million for the year ended March 2009, down $128 million from the previous year. Total expenditure by all international students includes student expenditure measured by the English Language Providers survey, as well as the expenditure of students enrolled at primary and secondary schools and tertiary institutions.

Geoff Bascand
Government Statistician
5 August 2009
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surveyofenglishlanguageprovidersyearmar09hotp.pdf
ELPalltables.xls